Car Review: Plymouth PT Cruiser

The high seating position for front passengers means less need for seat travel. This, in turn, gives back-seaters more legroom. There is plenty of headroom, and the unused headroom even contributes to the open, airy feel. Like any room with high ceilings, it just feels like there is more space than there really is.

interior space

There is a multitude of seating configurations and the trunk still boasts 19 cubic feet of storage capacity with the rear seat in place. Remove the back seat and that number triples. Fit and finish is good, and Chrysler was able to use plastic extensively without looking cheap.

The manual shifter gets topped off with a "cue ball" and the gauges get the white-face treatment. The seats are firm yet comfortable, but leave a bit to be desired in terms of side bolstering. The stereo works well and all controls are well laid out and easy to operate.

The window switches are on the dash for the front windows and at the back of the center console for rear windows. Back seat passengers need to reach forward and use these buttons to control their windows — a very odd decision. Why should they have to reach forward when a switch could have easily been placed in the conventional location? Then again, who said this car was conventional?

priced to sell

On first impression, this car looks like it would fetch a hefty premium. With a starting price of $16,000, it is very affordable. The great thing is that a car so refreshing will actually be available to the average consumer. Only problem is getting one — can you say "waiting list"? For those who must have one before everyone else, dealers have been commanding some serious premiums over sticker. For a car in such high demand, they can.

While this car seems to do everything just as well as it needs to, it does not excel in any one department. Except, of course, when it comes to collecting stares from on-lookers. If that's what you are looking for, there is no other car on the road for you. Chrysler succeeded in its mission to create a vehicle that rises above the cookie-cutter Camry and makes a statement. Remember that the statement made says, "Hey everyone, look at me!" before you run out and buy one.